Training
IAP2 Elective Courses
UNDERSTANDING CONFLICT IN P2/ENGAGEMENT
Prerequisite: Fundamentals in P2/Engagement, IAP2 Way in Challenging Context or the previous Foundations program.
When Things Get loud and messy — What Do You Do?
It’s easy to talk about engagement when everyone’s getting along. But real change often starts in the messy moments — when tensions rise, when voices clash, and when the room feels heavy.
Understanding Conflict in P2/Engagement is about leaning into those moments with clarity, courage, and care.
This course is designed for practitioners who know that conflict isn’t a sign of failure — it’s a signal. A sign that something matters deeply, that trust needs tending, or that power needs to be named and addressed. Instead of avoiding conflict, this course helps you understand it, navigate it, and even use it as a catalyst for more meaningful participation. We explore the root causes of conflict in engagement settings — from power dynamics and unspoken expectations to personal histories and systemic barriers. And we build the skills to respond with empathy, groundedness, and a deep sense of purpose.
This course gives you practical tools, yes — but also a deeper perspective on what conflict reveals. You’ll leave with more confidence, more calm, and more capacity to lead engagement in complex and emotionally charged situations.
Because conflict isn’t the end of engagement. Handled well, it can be the beginning of something real.
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DATE: MAY 7, 2026
TIME: 9:00am - 4:00pm MST
DELIVERY: IN-PERSON IN EDMONTON
VENUE: ECVO: Elm Business Park, Suite 101, 9426 51 Ave NW Edmonton, AB T6E 5A6 -
DATE: JUNE 10, 2026
TIME: 9:00am - 4:00pm local time
DELIVERY: IN-PERSON IN HALIFAX
VENUE: Community Room, John W. Lindsay YMCA (5640 Sackville St. Halifax, NS B3J 1L2)
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Course Objectives:
Explore a range of approaches for responding to difficult situations and challenging behaviours
Practice ways to respond to difficult situations
Explore the five dimensions of engagement conflict and ways and tools to anticipate and/or mitigate factors that might give rise to conflict
Understand the sources, types and factors that contribute to conflict in P2/engagement and the impact they may have on the process
Understand the role of power and influence in engagement practice
Understand and identify the cycle of escalation and the behaviours, attitudes and actions that are evident as conflict increases
Contribute to and/or apply strategies to de-escalate challenging situations
Identify how to build effective relationships and partnerships through empathy, active listening, respect and trust
Learn approaches to work in challenging situations applying behaviours that build trust and credibility
Consider the role of integrity and ethics in the conduct of the P2/engagement practitioner and how that is upheld in the process
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People facing conflict in their engagement practice.
FACILITATING GROUPS
Prerequisite: Fundamentals in P2/Engagement, IAP2 Way in Challenging Context or the previous Foundations program.
It’s Not Just About Holding the Mic — It’s About Holding the Space
When you step into a room to facilitate, everything shifts. People look to you — to guide, to support, to hold steady in the swirl of ideas, emotions, and sometimes even conflict.
Facilitating Groups is for practitioners who want to do more than just manage the room — they want to engage it meaningfully.
This course is about building the confidence and responsiveness that strong facilitation demands. Whether you're new to this role or refining your approach, you’ll explore what it means to create space where people feel safe to speak, heard when they do, and supported through the process. You’ll leave with more than tools. You’ll leave with a stronger sense of your presence — and how to use it to build trust, manage energy, and help groups do their best work.
Because facilitation isn’t about being the loudest voice. It’s about listening deeply, adapting skillfully, and creating the conditions where good things can happen.
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Examine the framework and purpose of facilitation in an engagement context
Build a repertoire of tools and processes
Practice some core skills
Troubleshoot specific challenges
Explore the changes needed for facilitation of digital engagement processes
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Practitioners beginning to facilitate in their P2/engagement practise
WORKING WITH CONFLICT & HIGH EMOTION IN P2/ENGAGEMENT
Prerequisite: Fundamentals in P2/Engagement, IAP2 Way in Challenging Context or the previous Foundations program.
By the end of Working with Conflict and High Emotion, you will be ready to travel on a journey that improves mutual understanding, changes relationships and systems to meet human needs, contributes to building peace and creates lasting change.
The focus of this course is on de-escalating and shifting conflict and high emotion to constructive participation, where forward momentum and resolution are possible. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the state of conflict, and work with practical, tangible approaches to deescalate and transform challenges. Over the course, we will cover tools, strategies and ways of working to resolve polarized and emotional challenges.
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OBJECTIVES
Assess the state of conflict and emotion in the P2/engagement process and identify how to address it to create productive and constructive approaches
Work with the stages of conflict escalation and apply the concepts of de-escalation
Apply a variety of strategies to transform the conflict in P2/engagement practice
Identify the impact of high emotion and apply a range of approaches to de-escalate P2/engagement challenges
Identify how to reduce conflict in situations of misinformation and duelling facts
Apply the principles of story-telling to connect people to each other, increase understanding and reduce conflict
Learn from mistakes and understand the role of failure in P2/engagement processes
Identify and apply how to model integrity and behaviours that de-escalate conflict
Apply the strategies and tools to your own project or situation
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Who should take this course?
Intermediate level practitioners who are leading and managing P2/engagement processes with challenges, scope and scale
Intermediate to advanced practitioners looking for tools and strategies to apply to a polarized, charged P2/engagement environment
Practitioners with experience in P2/engagement processes where is conflict and/or high emotion
““This course was my favourite IAP2 course - thank you for being such an inspiring facilitator and for sharing your personal and professional stories with us. It was great to learn alongside you all!””
New dates coming soon
UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE & COMMUNITIES
Prerequisite: Fundamentals in P2/Engagement, IAP2 Way in Challenging Context or the previous Foundations program.
You Can’t Design Meaningful Engagement Without Knowing Who You’re Designing It For
Behind every process are people.
Behind every policy, a community.
And behind every successful engagement — someone who took the time to understand both.
Understanding People and Communities is about doing just that.
This course invites you to slow down and look deeper — not just at the logistics of participation, but at the lived experiences, values, cultures, and barriers that shape how people engage (or don’t). It’s where equity, diversity, and inclusion move from buzzwords into practice — grounded in curiosity, respect, and a commitment to doing better.
Whether you're just beginning to explore inclusive engagement or looking to strengthen your practice, this course offers practical tools and reflective space to grow your awareness and sharpen your approach. This course will also challenge you to reflect on your own lens: How do your values, assumptions, and experiences influence your work? Where are your growth edges? What might need to change?
Because meaningful engagement starts long before a meeting is scheduled. It starts with how we see each other — and how we show up.
New dates coming soon
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By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Identify and apply an approach for understanding people and communities for P2/Engagement processes
Reflect on factors of cultural competence and cultural humility and assess your practice and approach against the factors to identify areas of strength and growth
Apply a variety of analysis and mapping tools to understand diversity
Apply a variety of analysis and mapping tools including values and perspectives mapping
Identify ways to increase access and centre equity by reducing barriers to participation
Reflect on how to build rapport, trust and relationships with people and communities and apply and assess approaches in a P2/engagement scenario
Assess and apply diversity and values mapping to planning and implementation of meaningful and effective P2/engagement across the Practice Framework
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Practitioners building their skills to contribute to meaningful P2/engagement processes
Practitioners who want to understand and apply aspects of equity, diversity and inclusion to their P2/engagement programs
Practitioners and allied professionals who are looking to build their skills in understanding who to engage in meaningful P2/engagement
“Thank you! I just wanted to let you know that the three days with you and our group of participants REALLY went so far above and beyond my wildest expectations. The IAP2 material was great, but the real zinger of the experience was you as a facilitator and trainer. I know I’m already equipped with much more than just the IAP2 framework – the tips and tricks you shared with us about leading, facilitating and practicing with intention are basically going to be foundational for everything, not just engagement. So, like from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU! My bucket is full and I can’t wait to top it back up in May. ”